Orlando Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Riding a bicycle was once relegated to the domain of childhood. Today, however, more and more adults are taking up cycling. Some cycle for exercise while others do so for economic or environmental reasons.

As enjoyable as riding a bicycle can be, it can also be very dangerous. When a bicycle is involved in a collision with a vehicle, it is typically the cyclist who suffers serious injuries. Without the protection a car or truck provides, cyclists often suffer life-altering, sometimes fatal injuries.

If you or a family member has been injured in a bicycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation for the physical injuries and psychological trauma you suffered as a result of the accident. An experienced personal injury attorney at Bailey Fisher can help you understand your legal options and obtain the compensation you deserve. We will put our legal expertise and commitment to justice for victims of others’ negligence and wrongdoing to work for you and your family

Bicycle Accident Facts and Figures

The number of people who regularly ride a bicycle has steadily increased in recent years. Although the number of children riders has remained relatively unchanged, the number of adult riders has grown year over year. In fact, the number of adults commuting by bicycle increased 105 percent nationwide from 2000 to 2013.

That trend has prompted numerous major cities throughout the U.S. to adopt bike-sharing programs. It has also caused the number of bicycle involved collisions to increase throughout the country. In 2018, figures released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate that 857 cyclists were fatally injured in crashes. The State of Florida led the nation with 125 cycling fatalities.

Florida Bicycle Laws

Both motorists and those who are new to cycling are often confused about the laws that apply to bicyclists. In Florida, bicyclists have both the same rights and the same responsibilities as motor vehicles. This means that a cyclist must obey the traffic laws that apply to motorists, but it also means that cyclists have the same right to share the roadway. If a vehicle has to stop at a red light, so does a bicyclist. Conversely, if a motorist would be required to yield the right of way to another vehicle, they must also yield to a cyclist.

Many collisions involving bicycles occur because motorists do not see cyclists. Thanks to a national campaign to bring awareness to the presence of bicycles on the roadways, motorists are starting to pay more attention. Nevertheless, a significant percentage of drivers continue to admit that they never saw a cyclist prior to a collision.

Bicycle Crashes

Nationally, the number of bicycles involved in traffic accidents has decreased in recent years; however, the number of fatal accidents has increased. Unfortunately for Florida residents, the state leads the nation in cycling fatalities – and by a significant margin. According to NHTSA, Florida’s per-capita cyclist death rate is over 50 percent higher than the number two state (Louisiana). Worse still, Florida is home to the top four most deadly cities for cyclists. The Tampa-St. Petersburg’s area came in number one with 7.0 deaths per 100,000 people followed by Jacksonville (6.0), Orlando (5.8), and Miami (5.4).

The two most common factors present when a bicycle involved traffic accident occurs are alcohol and driver inattention. NHTSA figures indicate that over one in three cyclist collisions involves alcohol, either on the part of the motorist or the cyclist.

Compensation for Bicycle Accident Injuries

Given how little protection a cyclist has when riding, it is no surprise that cyclists are often seriously – even fatally — injured in a collision with a motor vehicle. It is not uncommon for a bicyclist to suffer a spinal cord or traumatic brain injury in an accident. The emotional and financial toll on a victim and the victim’s family can seem unbearable.

If another party was at fault for injuries you suffered, including the loss of a loved one in a fatal crash, you may be entitled to compensation to help ease the financial burden caused by the accident. Depending on the specific details of your case, you may be able to receive compensation for your medical expenses, rehabilitative care, loss of income, pain, and suffering.

Get Help from Experienced Orlando Bicycle Accident Attorneys

The bicycle accident attorneys at Bailey Fisher bring a wealth of legal knowledge and experience and a strong sense of commitment to all of our clients who have suffered serious, often life-changing injuries due to someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing. We understand that bicycle accident injuries can have devastating effects on you and your family and want to help you during this difficult time.

If you or a family member has been seriously injured in a bicycle accident, call us at 407-628-2929 or submit our online form today. One of our experienced Orlando bicycle accident attorneys will evaluate your case for free. For viable personal injury cases, we will follow up with the necessary legal action to hold the responsible party accountable for their negligence and recover the financial compensation you deserve for your pain, suffering, and losses.

Sources

Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Florida crash dashboard. (2019).
https://www.flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports/crash-dashboard/

U.S. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2019, June) Traffic safety facts: Bicyclists and other cyclists.
https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/